Certification

Subacademy offers verifiable certificates for each of its 13 modules, plus a comprehensive certificate for completing the full program. Certificates are free, digitally verifiable, and designed to give organizations and funders clear evidence of staff training.

How certification works

Step 1: Complete the module

Work through all lessons within a module at your own pace. Each module contains video lessons, written content, interactive exercises, and inline knowledge checks. There are no time limits — you can start and stop as often as needed, and your progress is saved automatically.

Step 2: Pass the assessment

At the end of each module, a formal assessment tests your understanding of the material. Assessments consist of multiple-choice and scenario-based questions drawn from the module content. You must score at or above the pass threshold to earn the certificate for that module.

Step 3: Receive your certificate

Upon passing the assessment, your certificate is generated immediately. It is available as a downloadable PDF and as a persistent digital credential with a unique verification URL. Both are accessible from your account dashboard at any time.

Assessment details

Parameter	Details
Question format	Multiple-choice and scenario-based questions. Each assessment draws from the full scope of the module's content, including video lessons, written material, and interactive exercises.
Number of questions	15–25 questions per module assessment, depending on the breadth of the module.
Pass threshold	80% correct answers required to pass.
Time limit	None. Assessments are untimed to ensure accessibility and reduce testing anxiety. You may take breaks and return.
Retakes	Unlimited. You may retake an assessment as many times as needed. After each attempt, you receive feedback identifying areas to review before your next attempt.
Question randomization	Questions are drawn from a larger question pool and randomized on each attempt to ensure meaningful retesting.
Proctoring	Assessments are not proctored. We trust users to complete assessments honestly. See our Terms of Service for our policy on assessment integrity.

Certificate details

What appears on the certificate

Your full name (as entered in your account profile)
Module number and title (e.g., "Module 06 — Overdose Prevention & Response")
Completion date
Unique certificate ID
Verification URL
Subacademy logo and organizational information

Certificate formats

PDF download: A formatted, printable PDF suitable for professional portfolios, HR files, and physical display. Available from your dashboard immediately upon completion.
Digital credential: A persistent online record accessible via a unique verification URL. Can be shared with employers, funders, and colleagues via link. The verification page displays your name, module, completion date, and certificate validity status.

Full program certificate

In addition to individual module certificates, users who complete all 13 modules earn the comprehensive Subacademy Harm Reduction Training Certificate. This certificate represents completion of the full curriculum and is a single credential that encompasses all 13 areas of training.

What Subacademy certification means

Subacademy certificates demonstrate that the holder has completed a structured, evidence-based harm reduction training program and passed a knowledge assessment at or above the required threshold. Certificates provide organizations, employers, and funders with verifiable evidence of staff training.

Important distinction: Subacademy certificates represent completion of educational training. They are not professional licenses, clinical certifications, or legally mandated credentials. They do not replace any certification, license, or qualification required by federal, state, local, or international law, regulation, or employer policy. If your jurisdiction or employer requires specific certifications for your role, verify that Subacademy training satisfies those requirements before relying on it for compliance purposes.

Recognition and adoption

Subacademy certificates are increasingly recognized across the harm reduction and public health landscape:

Public health departments: A growing number of county and state health departments accept Subacademy certificates as evidence of harm reduction training for staff, contractors, and community health workers
Employers: Organizations in the harm reduction space are adopting Subacademy as their standard onboarding training, using certificate records to document staff readiness
Funders and grantors: Some funding agencies accept Subacademy certificates as evidence of organizational training investment in grant applications and compliance reports
Continuing education: We are exploring partnerships with professional organizations to offer continuing education credits (CEUs/CEs) for Subacademy modules. This is not yet available but is a priority for future development

Verification

Any third party with whom you share a certificate verification URL can verify its authenticity. The verification page displays:

Certificate holder's name
Module title
Completion date
Certificate validity status (valid, revoked, or not found)

No other personal information is disclosed through the verification process. Verification does not require an account and is accessible to anyone with the URL.

For bulk verification (e.g., organizations verifying multiple staff certificates), contact support@subacademy.org to arrange batch verification.

Certificate integrity

We take certificate integrity seriously. Certificates may be revoked if we determine that they were obtained through fraudulent means, including:

Having another person complete assessments on your behalf
Using unauthorized assistance, tools, or resources during assessments
Sharing assessment answers with other users
Providing false identity information on your account
Creating multiple accounts to circumvent assessment limitations

Revoked certificates are marked as invalid in the verification system. The certificate holder and, if applicable, their organizational administrator are notified of revocation. See our Terms of Service for full details.

Certificate retention

Certificate records are retained indefinitely to support ongoing verification, even if you delete your account. If you delete your account and wish to anonymize your certificate records, you may request this by contacting privacy@subacademy.org. Anonymized certificates remain verifiable but will show "Name withheld" instead of your name. See our Privacy Policy for full data retention details.

Modules and certificates available

Module	Title	Certificate
01	Foundations of Harm Reduction	Individual
02	Trauma-Informed Care	Individual
03	Stigma Reduction & Communication	Individual
04	Working with Diverse Populations	Individual
05	Legal, Ethical & Policy	Individual
06	Overdose Prevention & Response	Individual
07	Drug Checking	Individual
08	Substance-Specific Risks	Individual
09	Safer Use Strategies	Individual
10	Health Linkage & Supportive Care	Individual
11	Outreach, Engagement & Crisis Response	Individual
12	Reentry & Transition Support	Individual
13	Program Implementation & Provider Wellbeing	Individual
All	Full Program	Comprehensive